SpaceTree
An Interactive Visualization of
Traditional Node-Link Tree Diagrams
Jesse Grosjean
Catherine Plaisant
Ben Bederson
Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory
University of Maryland
Node Link Tree Diagrams
Eastern Region
Manager
Western Region
Manager
Big Oil
President
North Region
Manager
Operations Manager
Facilities Engineer
Drilling Manager
Safety Manager
Land Manager
Support Functions
HR Manager
IT Manager
• Familiar
representation
• Shows tree
topology well
• BUT: Inefficient
use of screen space
SpaceTree
• Dynamic rescaling of branches to
best fit available screen space based
on focus.
• Preview icons to summarize the
topology of hidden branches
• Smooth animation between views
• Integrated search and filter
functions
Alternative Preview Icons
User Study
•SpaceTree
MS Explorer
Hyperbolic
tree browser
• 18 subjects, all used the 3 interfaces
• Order and task set counterbalanced
• 40 minute session
Subjective Preference:
Attractiveness
Attractiveness (1=not cool at all, 9=very cool)
8.00
7.00
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
Explorer
Hyperbolic
SpaceTree
No significant difference between Hyperbolic and SpaceTree
Preference for Future Use
Use (1=would not like to use, 9=very much like to use)
8.00
7.00
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
Explorer
Hyperbolic
SpaceTree
No significant difference
Time to Return to Previously
Visited Node
25.00
Time is sec.
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
Explorer
Hyperbolic
SpaceTree
SpaceTree sign. faster than Hyperbolic, Explorer fastest
Estimating Size of Subtrees
Number of Errors (out of 18 answers)
14.00
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
Explorer
Hyperbolic
SpaceTree
Example: comparing 3 subtrees of 60, 300 and 160 nodes
(SpaceTree also faster)
Estimating Size of Subtrees
Number of Errors (out of 18 answers)
14.00
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
Explorer
Hyperbolic
SpaceTree
Example: comparing 3 subtrees of 60, 300 and 160 nodes
(SpaceTree also faster)
Conclusions
• Preview icons and consistent layout
improve node-link tree browsers
• Task analysis will help you chose the
right browser
www.cs.umd.edu/hcil/spacetree/
• Partial support from Chevron-Texaco
• Participation of Jean-Daniel Fekete and Ben
Shneiderman at HCIL, Cheryl Lukehart and Don
Schiro at Chevron-Texaco.